The Republican establishment, increasingly alarmed by the enduring strength of Donald Trump’s presidential bid, is ratcheting up efforts to knock him out of the race, including the first attempt to unite donors from rival camps into a single anti-Trump force.

A well-connected GOP operative is planning a “guerrilla campaign” backed by secret donors to “defeat and destroy” the celebrity businessman’s candidacy, according to a memo obtained by The Wall Street Journal. A super PAC supporting Ohio Gov. John Kasich is airing a series of ads attacking him. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is striking out with his bluntest attacks yet.

The sense of urgency has mounted in part because Mr. Trump continues at or near the top of GOP polls, even after many predicted that the Paris terrorist attacks would lead voters to turn to a more seasoned candidate.

The most-concerted effort yet is Trump Card LLC, the guerilla campaign being launched by Liz Mair, former online communications director of the Republican National Committee.

“In the absence of our efforts, Trump is exceedingly unlikely to implode or be forced out of the race,” according to the Trump Card memo. “The stark reality is that unless something dramatic and unconventional is done, Trump will be the Republican nominee and Hillary Clinton will become president.”

Opposition research, grass-roots organizing and donor outreach has been going on for weeks, Ms. Mair said, while declining to name any backers. “It’s loosely organized and highly confidential,” she said. “I certainly know donors who are very happy that their fingerprints will be kept off things.”
[...]
Ms. Mair’s anti-Trump effort is planning an especially blunt and direct approach. The group’s memo said it would be pitching opposition research to media in early-voting states, as well as radio and television ads and Web videos that attract media attention based on their “outrageousness and boundary-breaking or bizarre nature.”

Other possible tactics include fake pro-Trump ads that show him supporting socialized medicine, seizing property through eminent domain and taking other positions that stray from GOP orthodoxy; using a Trump impersonator to show him insulting people; and attacking his business record in “stark, nasty terms.”

Wait!!

Fake ads and ads that compare Trump to Rosie O'Donnell....

Who wants popcorn?

....and a "guerrilla campaign" against The Donald? What could possibly go wrong?

But how ironic is it that Republicans now want to destroy the Frankenstein monster they created all by themselves?

As one Internet commenter wrote yesterday, it's time for Republicans to "take a bow."

You fought for unlimited money in elections, since money = free speech.

You mocked community organizers and yearned for a businessman who would run government like a business.

You detest civility and "political correctness" in favor of crudely and obnoxiously "telling it like it is."

You reject the spirit of compromise in favor of misleading attack ads and the politics of personal destruction.

You want a president you can have a beer with, and who doesn't talk like he's smarter than you.

You attack public education, teacher's unions, the arts and humanities, academics and the "cultural elites" in favor of dumbed-down and simplistic "common sense."

You attack mainstream media and public broadcasting in favor of ratings-driven hate radio shock jocks and Fox News.

You reject cultural and ethnic diversity in favor of "real Americans." and demonized immigrants as violent disease-infected marauders who steal jobs from Americans.

You celebrate intolerance, bigotry and hatred as "religious freedom" and "traditional family values."

You elect clueless, unaccountable anti-government motormouths with no loyalty to their constituents in a misguided effort to rein in the "government overreach" of "career politicians."

With each new iteration and election cycle you have managed to further coarsen and debase the level of civic discourse and political participation.

Having made "liberal" a slur, you now have made "moderate" an epithet worthy of derision.

And now, as your party leaders cringe powerlessly, you cheer on the unprecedented spectacle of a yahoo and vulgarian, a cartoonish reality TV "boss" with national name recognition, notoriety and multi-billions at his disposal making a mockery of not only your primaries but the country's entire electoral process.

Congratulations, Republicans, on the fulfillment and culmination of your efforts.